Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Northfield Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:NFBK) by 2.9% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 275,655 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 7,869 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.62% of Northfield Bancorp worth $4,088,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Old Mutual Global Investors UK Ltd. acquired a new stake in Northfield Bancorp during the second quarter valued at $179,000. Airain ltd acquired a new stake in Northfield Bancorp during the second quarter valued at $182,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA boosted its stake in Northfield Bancorp by 132.6% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 12,344 shares of the company’s stock valued at $183,000 after buying an additional 7,038 shares during the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its stake in Northfield Bancorp by 0.9% in the second quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 12,553 shares of the company’s stock valued at $186,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its stake in Northfield Bancorp by 71.3% in the second quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 14,028 shares of the company’s stock valued at $208,000 after buying an additional 5,837 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.91% of the company’s stock.

Northfield Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:NFBK) opened at 16.20 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $16.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.60. The firm has a market cap of $783.06 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.15 and a beta of 0.26. Northfield Bancorp Inc. has a 52-week low of $14.31 and a 52-week high of $16.68.

Northfield Bancorp (NASDAQ:NFBK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 26th. The company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, topping the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.01. Northfield Bancorp had a return on equity of 4.27% and a net margin of 18.24%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.11 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Northfield Bancorp Inc. will post $0.55 EPS for the current year.

Separately, Hovde Group began coverage on Northfield Bancorp in a research note on Friday, August 12th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $16.00 target price for the company.

In other Northfield Bancorp news, Director Patrick E. Scura, Jr. sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.88, for a total transaction of $39,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 81,846 shares in the company, valued at $1,299,714.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 10.50% of the company’s stock.

Northfield Bancorp Company Profile

Northfield Bancorp, Inc is a holding company for Northfield Bank (the Bank). Northfield Bank’s principal business consists of originating commercial real estate loans and multifamily real estate loans, purchasing investment securities including mortgage-backed securities and corporate bonds, as well as depositing funds in other financial institutions.